China Scrambled Two Fighter Jets To Repel A U.S. Spyplane Last Month

China crossed the middle line that marks its border with Taiwan
June 29 to repel a U.S. spy aircraft (via
Zero Hedge).

This is the first time in more than a decade Chinese and American
aircraft had come into contact. The last
time -- a Chinese fighter collided with a U.S.
reconnaissance aircraft -- created an international crisis
when the crew was held by the Chinese for days.

According to the
Financial Times, Taiwan's defense ministry confirmed that two
Chinese Su-27 fighters crossed the middle line, adding "the
incident was not a provocation".

“This was not between Taiwan and China, but between China and
the US,” said a senior Taiwanese defence official. “The Chinese
crossed the line to repel a perceived intrusion by a US
reconnaissance aircraft.”

A Chinese defence source said: “This once again shows that US
military activity very close to our territory is a destabilising
factor in the region.” The incident in the Taiwan Strait comes as
the US and China are trying hard not to let rising tensions in
the South China Sea derail a recent improvement in bilateral
military relations.

Taiwan and China have long respected the middle line drawn up in
a mutual defense treaty in 1954.